NEW YORK -- Adam Graves' greatness isn't measured in numbers -- although it could be.

It isn't about his grit on the ice or his unfailing dedication to his team, and more importantly his teammates -- although it could be.

If he were asked to describe what he does best, Graves' answer would be about how he is a people person and how he strives to make the community better. Not because he was a great hockey player, but because the teachings of humility and caring instilled by his parents are the very things that power his days.

For that, as much as his vast contribution to the Rangers' long-awaited Stanley Cup championship team in 1994, is why his No. 9 was retired to the Madison Square Garden rafters Tuesday, before the Rangers lost to the Atlanta Thrashers, 2-1, in a shootout.

"He really is the guy you see," longtime teammate Mark Messier said. "He always gave of himself, to charities, to children. He always had time for everybody. He wasn't doing it for recognition. He was doing it because that's who he is."

Call Graves the people's champion.

His speech was halted several times by chants of "Gravy! Gravy!" and "Let's Go Rangers!" He paused to keep himself composed, and managed to hold it together.

"It was hard, in all the best ways, to get through," he said. "I was very, very, very humbled."

Graves was feted by former teammates who presented him with a guitar signed by Bruce Springsteen, one of his favorite musicians, and was surprised by the appearance of the cast of "The Sopranos."

"For me. Adam Graves," he said in astonishment.

On his long walk to the ice last night, Graves shook hands with police officers and firefighters he met during his Rangers tenure as well as many disabled children associated with the Garden Of Dreams charity, who lined the hallways.

He rubbed his forehead and his eyes welled up in tears as current Rangers captains Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Markus Naslund skated out with the banner. When it ascended to the ceiling, Graves wrapped his arms around his son, Logan, and bent over to kiss him when he saw his father crying.

Along with captain Messier, defenseman Brian Leetch, and goalie Mike Richter, Graves became beloved by Rangers fans, who endured 54 years of futility between titles from 1940 until 1994.

"I get it. I understand how lucky I was. To be honored among them is humbling," he said of his teammates, whose numbers are retired.

Graves walked toward the tunnel after the hourlong ceremony along with the trio of teammates, but Messier urged him back to center ice to receive one last standing ovation.

"My heart is still absolutely pounding out of my chest," he said when it was over. "I don't know if you can tell."

After the ceremony, Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen made 39 saves and then stopped two more shots in the shootout, shaking off a late blown lead.

The Thrashers were primed to win 1-0 on Joe Motzko's third-period goal before Naslund got the Rangers even with only 10.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

Naslund then started the shootout with a goal, but Lehtonen turned aside Nikolai Zherdev and Fredrik Sjostrom. Bryan Little and Slava Kozlov scored on Atlanta's attempts to help the Thrashers snap a four-game losing streak. The Rangers have lost three straight.